---
title: What are Workflows?
sidebarTitle: Overview
description: Learn how Agno Workflows enable deterministic, controlled automation of multi-agent systems
---

Agno Workflows enable you to build deterministic, controlled agentic flows by orchestrating agents, teams, and functions through a series of defined steps. Unlike free-form agent interactions, workflows provide structured automation with predictable execution patterns, making them ideal for production systems that require reliable, repeatable processes.


<img 
  className="block dark:hidden" 
  src="/images/workflows-flow-light.png" 
  alt="Workflows flow diagram"
/>


<img 
  className="hidden dark:block" 
  src="/images/workflows-flow.png" 
  alt="Workflows flow diagram"
/>

## Why should you use Workflows?

Workflows provide deterministic control over your agentic systems, enabling you to build reliable automation that executes consistently every time. They're essential when you need:

**Deterministic Execution**

- Predictable step-by-step processing with defined inputs and outputs
- Consistent results across multiple runs
- Clear audit trails for production systems

**Complex Orchestration**

- Multi-agent coordination with controlled handoffs
- Parallel processing and conditional branching
- Loop structures for iterative tasks

Workflows excel at **deterministic agent automation**, while [Teams](/concepts/teams/overview) are designed for **dynamic agentic coordination**. Use workflows when you need predictable, repeatable processes; use teams when you need flexible, collaborative problem-solving.

## Deterministic Step Execution

Workflows execute as a controlled sequence of steps, where each step produces deterministic outputs that feed into the next step. This creates predictable data flows and consistent results, unlike free-form agent conversations.

**Step Types**

- **Agents**: Individual AI executors with specific capabilities and instructions
- **Teams**: Coordinated groups of agents working together on complex problems
- **Functions**: Custom Python functions for specialized processing logic

**Deterministic Benefits**
Your agents and teams retain their individual characteristics and capabilities, but now operate within a structured framework that ensures:

- **Predictable execution**: Steps run in defined order with controlled inputs/outputs
- **Repeatable results**: Same inputs produce consistent outputs across runs
- **Clear data flow**: Output from each step explicitly becomes input for the next
- **Controlled state**: Session management and state persistence between steps
- **Reliable error handling**: Built-in retry mechanisms and error recovery

## Direct User Interaction

When users interact directly with your workflow (rather than calling it programmatically), you can make it **conversational** by adding a `WorkflowAgent`. This enables natural chat-like interactions where the workflow intelligently decides whether to answer from previous results or execute new workflow runs. Learn more in the [Conversational Workflows](/concepts/workflows/conversational-workflows) guide.

## Guides

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card
    title="View Complete Example"
    icon="code"
    href="/examples/concepts/workflows/01-basic-workflows/sequence_of_functions_and_agents"
  >
    See the full example with agents, teams, and functions working together
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Conversational Workflows"
    icon="comments"
    href="/concepts/workflows/conversational-workflows"
  >
    Enable chat-like interactions with your workflows for direct user engagement
  </Card>
  <Card
    title="Use in AgentOS"
    icon="play"
    href="/agent-os/features/chat-interface#run-a-workflow"
  >
    Run your workflows through the AgentOS chat interface
  </Card>
</CardGroup>
